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McDonald’s Malaysia faces customer backlash for defamation lawsuit against BDS group

BDS Malaysia accused McDonald’s of supporting Israel’s ‘genocidal’ war in Gaza.

By Shiryn Ghermezian, The Algemeiner

Social media users are threatening to stop buying from McDonald’s after a franchisee in Malaysia filed a lawsuit against a local group pushing the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, which the company claims is damaging its business.

Gerbang Alaf Restaurants, the license holder of McDonald’s in the Muslim-majority country, filed a lawsuit at a Kuala Lumpur court on Dec. 19, claiming that BDS Malaysia has defamed the company and incited the public to boycott the fast food brand. The boycott has allegedly led to a loss of profit and job cuts, among other damages. McDonald’s Malaysia is seeking $1.311 million from BDS Malaysia.

The BDS movement seeks to isolate Israel from the international community as a step toward the Jewish state’s eventual elimination.

The local BDS movement in Malaysia uploaded a series of social media posts that accused McDonald’s Malaysia, among other companies, of supporting Israel’s “genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza.”

“While we understand and respect that the act of boycotting is an individual decision, we believe that it should be based on true facts and not false allegations,” McDonald’s Malaysia said in a released statement. Meanwhile, BDS Malaysia said on Friday that it “categorically denies” defaming the company with its anti-Israel boycott efforts.

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Social media users supportive of the anti-Israel boycott slammed McDonald’s Malaysia for filing the lawsuit and have threatened to start boycotting the company because of it. One user on X/Twitter wrote, “I haven’t been boycotting McDonald’s [but] if McDonald’s proceeds with the suit against BDS Malaysia, I will start boycotting them for real.” Another tweeted: “How can this entity even think this action will endear the brand to Malaysians? Bye McD.”

A separate X user said the lawsuit is “more reason to boycott” McDonald’s Malaysia, while the South China Morning Post cited another social media user who said the fast food company has “lost a customer for life” for initiating the lawsuit.

BDS Malaysia said it will let the lawsuit go to court and has spoken with lawyers about the matter.